After a long and disappointing debate, the council has decided not to adopt the petition demand of a Israeli Apartheid Free Zone.
Submitted in March and delegated to the Strategy and Resources Committee, Sheffield PSC activists were hopeful that, in the wake of the International Court of Justice ruling on July 18th, which found Israel’s occupation to be illegal and the regime to be practising the crime of apartheid, the Council would vote to review the report. Instead it voted to accept its recommendations and do nothing.
The report itself, described by the Council’s chief executive, Kate Josephs, as ‘processy and legalistic’ takes a risk averse perspective and is reluctant to find room to support Palestinian people. This contrasts with the alacrity with which the Council supported Ukraine.
You can judge for yourselves. Here is the Ukrainian people support page and here is the Palestine statement of support.
Questions first from Hilary Smith and then from Jonathan Feldman challenged the Council to have the report reviewed; then during the debate there was an amendment proposed by Douglas Johnson (and seconded by Angela Argenzio) to include a statement that adopts the phrase Israeli Apartheid Free Zone; in response to this the Chief Executive was able to confirm that it was ‘open to the council to adopt the phrase’ adding that Local Authorities “do adopt declarations which are expressions of political views”.
In spite of this open door to do the right thing, Tom Hunt the leader of the council – supported feverishly (some might say manically) by the leader of the Liberal Democrats – forced the report through with no review.
Some issues and questions remain:
the report claims that the council is not subject to International law and there was a claim in the meeting that external counsel was consulted and confirmed this – we maintain this is incorrect but even if it is correct it does not mean councils cannot act to support international law.
the council officers have done an impact assessment for this report; dd they do an EIA for the Ukranian support policy?
the council rejected the phrase as they claimed it was largely symbolic, but there are things they can do to support Palestinians in Sheffield and show support for Palestine:
- They could remind all business of the ruling from the ICJ and advise them to withdraw from contracts that exposes them to Israeli war crimes.
- They could ensure posters are placed in libraries to this affect
- They could offer mental health support to Palestinian refugees
We will be keeping up the pressure on the council to change tack over the coming months.
